NICK McKIM, Greens Leader,
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today said that their preselection processes for the Legislative Council seat of Pembroke are underway, with the Party confident of running a strong candidate.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP challenged the ALP to run a candidate to provide voters with an opportunity to register their discontent with the government, saying that any refusal would be an admission that the Bartlett government is running scared of Tasmanian voters given its appalling recent record.
“The Greens have had interest from a number of strong potential candidates, but the real issue here is whether Mr Bartlett has the ticker to run an endorsed ALP candidate.”
“The Greens will be announcing a candidate soon, and I have no doubt that he or she will be welcomed by the voters of Pembroke as offering a real alternative to the old-style politics of the Labor and Liberal Parties.”
“I have no doubt that the voters of Pembroke would hammer the government over its shocking recent performance on issues like cost-of-living, the disintegration of Tasmania’s rail network, and Labor’s blatant nepotism.”
“If the Premier truly believes that his government is performing well, he should be prepared to submit to the truest test of public opinion in a democracy – an election. Anything else would confirm the lack of courage that many Tasmanians are beginning to suspect,” Mr McKim said.
